Machado Denies Funds Meant For Rival

Impacto! - NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR & ABOUT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY - CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA - Political Pulse

August 29, 1999|By Ivn Romn San Juan Bureau

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Dr. Richard Machado, a candidate in the Popular Democratic Party's primary for mayor of San Juan, was running a fairly quiet campaign, occasionally raising his voice against abortion or defending family values.

Then two 5-year-old checks totaling $800 came back to haunt him. Federal Elections Commission records show he gave money to the campaign of Resident Commissioner Carlos Romero Barcelo, a pro-statehood activist who once was president of the rival New Progressive Party.

And Machado's opponent in the primary race, Sen. Eduardo Bhatia, made sure everyone knew. He held a news conference and distributed copies of documents he pulled off the Internet.

``How is it possible that a person who is trying to be the president of the PDP in San Juan ... gives money to the campaign of the person who has been the biggest enemy the PDP and the Commonwealth status has had in its history?'' Bhatia asked.

Machado denied what he called ``vicious accusations'' and said he gave to the Democratic Party in the United States, which then must have assigned funds to Romero Barcelo. Leaders from the PDP and NPP parties belong to the Democratic Party.

``I am clear on one thing. I have never donated money to Carlos Romero Barcelo, either personally or through corporations,'' Machado said.

But federal elections officials and local Democratic leaders say what Machado describes is not possible. ``Soft money'' given to political parties cannot be assigned to specific candidates unless the donor asks them to do so.

And Machado is not getting much support from the PDP leadership, which already leaned toward supporting Bhatia.

``Honestly, I don't believe him and I think this disqualifies him as a candidate for our party,'' said PDP vice president Rep. Anibal Acevedo Vila, who is in a primary fight to unseat Romero Barcelo.

Romero Barcelo didn't help when he confirmed Machado had donated to his campaign then criticized Bhatia for bringing it up.

``I have never seen such a ridiculous issue for such a serious candidate,'' Romero Barcelo said.